A/N: Oh gosh, I'm so sorry for the major delay. But it's true, I've had absolutely no time to update. The play has been taking over what's left of my life. I'm at the All-Boys school every day, and I won't be getting much of a three-day weekend this weekend. Today there's a dance, YAHOO!!! But tomorrow, I'm going to Riordan for an all-day tech rehearsal, and the same goes for Monday. Opening night is this coming Friday, so wish me luck.

To all the usual reviewers, thanks for your patience, and I hope these next few chapters do y'all so justice. Enjoy! To Obsessed over Flamedramon: I don't think I specified anywhere that the students did or did not know that Remus was a werewolf. I really don't think it matters because he's not exactly part of the plot anyways. The Quidditch team was laughing because of Snuffles. I mean who the heck names their dog Snuffles? You get me?

Okie dokes, I'll shut up now. I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 19: Without You

Draco and Alina didn't speak a word to each other that following morning. They picked at their breakfast, and avoided each other's eyes. Draco knew Alina had a difficult night. He could tell by the circles under her eyes, and the fact her eyes were a deep shade of black instead of it's lively brown. The way she brought herself into the Great Hall was different, too. She usually walked with that air of greatness. She knew that she was better than everyone else if she didn't let everyone get to her. But today, Draco could tell she was drowning in self-pity.

He knew Alina wouldn't know about his night. He never told Alina of Hermione, and he wasn't sure if now was a good time to let her know. She'd probably end up cursing herself for not gaining his full trust.

Owls hooted overhead, and a large, regal-looking owl swooped over Draco's head and dropped a letter onto his plate. He looked down at it, wide-eyed. A red envelope sat on top of Draco's scrambled eggs, and got Alina's attention. She looked at the red envelope, gave Draco a worried glance, and then looked back down at the red envelope. Draco poked at it as if he were expecting it to explode at his touch. He seized it off his plate, wiggling the envelope in his hand to get all the bits of scrambled eggs off of it.

"C'mon," Draco ordered, halfway to the door to the Great Hall. Alina quickly got out of her seat, and almost tripped over her feet. Draco pulled her by the wrist to get her to move faster, but it was too late. The envelope exploded, and Alina and Draco were at the door to the Great Hall, with all eyes on them. Draco turned chalk-white as his father's yelling filled the Great Hall.

"...YOU'RE A LAME EXCUSE OF A SON, AND A LAME EXCUSE OF A MALFOY! YOU'VE BROUGHT THIS FAMILY SO MUCH SHAME! YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW ANGRY I WAS WHEN PANSY INFORMED ME OF YOU AND THAT...THAT MOON-FEARING GRYFFINDOR! I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE HAD YOU LIVING UNDER MY ROOF! I CARED FOR YOU, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GIVE ME IN RETURN! YOUR MOTHER IS IN TEARS NOW, YOU STUPID BOY! YOU MADE ME DO IT! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, BOY, PRAY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO BREATHE THE NEXT DAY! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TRYING TO HIDE BEHIND THAT OLD FOOL DUMBLEDORE! IF I CAN'T GET TO YOU BECAUSE OF HIM, MARK MY WORDS, VOLDEMORT WILL GET A HOLD OF YOU, AND THAT ANIMAL, AND FINISH THE BOTH OF YOU OFF IN WAYS UNIMAGINABLE! YOU WILL SOON LEARN THAT THERE ARE PRICES TO PAY WHEN YOU ASSOCIATE WITH THOSE LESSER THAN US...WITH THOSE THAT AREN'T EVEN HUMAN! THEY'RE FREAKS, BOY! YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR BACK BECAUSE YOU'RE SLOWLY TURNING INTO ONE YOURSELF!"

Lucius Malfoy's voice wasn't ringing in the Great Hall anymore. The red envelope burst into flames. Draco looked down at the ashes at his feet. He felt so bad for the girl at his side. He couldn't believe she, and the rest of the Great Hall, had to hear that. He couldn't imagine the emotions rushing through her.

His own father had insulted her, humiliated her. Let out her secret so the whole school could hear it (but then again, Draco believed the school wouldn't understand what his father meant when he called Alina a 'moon-fearing Gryffindor' if they couldn't realize that she was a werewolf to begin with.) He put a threat upon her life, and brought Voldemort into the subject. His mother was crying, and he knew why. Lucius had put his own wife under the Cruciatus Curse. It pained her enough for her to see her husband be so angry with her and her son, but for him to have to hurt her psychically. The visions of his father putting his mother under an Unforgivable Curse was enough to make him want to upchuck his breakfast.

He clutched Alina's wrist tightly, and his hand soon found hers. He squeezed her hand, and he could hear her trying to steady her breath.

"Let's-"

"No." Alina said firmly. Draco dropped her hand and looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

"What? Come now, let's get out of here." Draco tried ushering her out of the Great Hall, but she stood her ground. Draco stepped up to her. "Why are you making this harder than it's supposed to be? I, as much as you do, don't want to be in here." He whispered.

"Don't treat me like a baby. Yes, your father just insulted me and gave me a death threat, but I don't care. I'll go on with my life.without you." Alina turned away and tried to walk out the doors to the Great Hall. Draco grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him.

"Why are you doing this? Don't you remember? The two of us, the lone part of the Slytherin table?"

"No, I don't want to live that life. Let me handle this on my own." Alina said, pulling herself out of his grasp.

"You can't handle this on your own. You'll make it worse." Alina snapped her head sharply.

"I'll make it worse? I will make my life worse? Damn straight I will! I screwed up everything! I associated myself with you, and lost my friends, and came running back to you. Now, I find out that being with you is such a sin, and will cost me my life. Now isn't that just fine and dandy?" Alina spat, "Look, it's between life and you. As far as I'm concerned, life is far more important than all this extra attention I've been getting from sitting with you and following you around like a lost puppy." Alina ran out of the Great Hall, with Draco looking after her. He didn't run. He wasn't going to try to convince her that they were good together, that they needed each other. He was going to let her realize that for herself. But until then, he'll be alone, and so will she.

He turned around to see the whole Great Hall staring at him with curiosity.

"Don't you people have your own lives to tend to!?" with that, Draco stormed out of the Great Hall.

******

Alina didn't show her face in the Great Hall after the incident with the Howler. She didn't even request that her meals be given to her up at her dormitory. She had refused to eat altogether.

Lavender and Parvati had tried to approach her one night after dinner. They had given her dinner rolls and chicken they had wrapped in a napkin and hid in their robes. Alina gave them a glance, almost cracked a smile, but turned them away immediately. Lavender and Parvati never tried approaching her again.

Penelope and Megan have both tried to get her to eat, too.

"You have a Quidditch match coming up tomorrow." Megan had tried conversing as she pulled the curtains back on Alina's four-poster. Alina stared at Megan monotonously. "I think you should eat. You need your strength. We're sure that the team wouldn't want to see you like this."

"The team couldn't care less if they weren't half-dependant on me for that stupid Cup." Alina turned on her bed. She felt the weight on the bed shift.

"That's not true. Harry is really concerned about you." Penelope said. Alina felt something funny inside of her. Something pulling at her heartstrings, or maybe the hunger was finally taking its toll on her.

"It's not concern. It's all about the Cup." Alina repeated.

"Is that why you're not eating? You, in a sense, don't feel wanted on the team?" Megan asked.

"This has nothing to do with Quidditch or the team. You won't understand." Alina said as she put her face against her pillow.

"We want to understand, Li. Enlighten us." Megan pleaded. Alina had that funny feeling inside of her again. That feeling of love and concern was actually floating around her. It could've been her imagination, or maybe these people around her actually cared about her and what she was feeling.

"No possible way! They *don't* care! Don't listen to them!" Alina's mind screamed.

"No! Don't. Leave me alone." Alina said, pulling her bed sheets up above her head.

"Alina, we really think you should get something to eat. This is hurting you, and it's hurting us... And it's really hurting Draco." Penelope said. Alina pulled the covers away from her head.

"Don't mention Draco." The way she had said it could've frozen the air.

Penelope pushed herself off of the bed, and Megan pulled the curtains back to its spot on Alina's four-poster. Alina was stuck in loneliness again. She took her wand out from underneath the covers, and swished it around as she mumbled the Silencing Charm under her breath.

******

"Team: we are getting so close to that Quidditch Cup." Harry looked to each of his teammates. They all huddled together in the locker room, but Alina excluded herself just a bit. "We could do this, we could win that Cup again. Now it's us versus Slytherin. We beat them, and it's nothing but the Cup after this." Fred and George knocked their clubs together, and six sevenths of the team cheered. "Are you okay?" Harry pulled Alina away from the group as they neared the Quidditch pitch.

"I'm fine, Harry." Alina assured.

"You won't collapse in the game, will you? Are you sure you're one hundred percent well enough to play in the game?" Harry questioned. Alina stopped him, and turned him to face her.

"Harry, I can't be any better right now. I feel fine, and I assure you that nothing bad will happen to me. I'm sure of it." Alina affirmed. Harry sighed, and took a look down at his broomstick. He looked back up at her, into her black eyes.

"They were never black before." Harry thought.

"There'll be no more walking out on the team, I hope." Harry said, shifting on the balls of his feet.

"Look, what happened at practice had to happen. I couldn't help it, and I'm sorry. I understand how much this Cup means to you, and I'll try not to let you down. But you've got to cut me some slack. I'm not Wonder Woman." Harry gave her a confused look. "Muggle super heroine. Now, we've got a game to win, don't we?" Alina walked past him just as the other team members flew out onto the pitch.

Alina's robes waved behind her. The sun blinded her eyes. She hadn't been out of her dormitory in broad daylight in weeks. Quidditch practices were at night, so that didn't give the sun a chance to beat against her. She had to admit she liked playing in darkness better than in the light because the damn sun always got in her eyes, it felt as if a spotlight was on her and only her, and she felt the pressure for her to play her best in front of everyone.

The Slytherin team made their way out onto the pitch, and Draco flew quite slowly behind. Oliver Wood, the referee for the game, looked up at the teams from down on the ground. He ordered the captains to shake hands, and Harry flew over to Draco and outstretched his hand. Draco looked past him, at Alina, but shook Harry's hand anyway.

Oliver released the Quaffle into the air, and the Slytherin Chaser almost knocked Angelina Johnson off of her broom to get it. The Chasers had good ball handling, Alina had to admit that. They were good at giving those fast, Keeper-bruising knuckle balls, too.

The Chaser came within scoring range, and Alina knew which throw he was going to give her. This guy was so predictable with ways he held the Quaffle and to which post he flew.

Alina was at the left goalpost, as was the Chaser when he threw a curve ball. Alina went for the center goalpost and blocked it all too easily. She threw the Quaffle out to Alicia Spinnet, who passed it to Katie Bell, and she went for the Slytherin goalposts.

Alina caught Oliver Wood watching her, and she returned his glance. He gave her a quick 'thumbs up' before returning to his refereeing duties.

******

The Golden Snitch sped past Harry's eyes and on downward. Harry dived for it, and he sensed Malfoy's presence behind him. He knew Malfoy would do anything to beat him now that they were both captain, and that he had lost out to him for the Quidditch Cup back in their third year.

But Malfoy wasn't next to him as he came closer and closer to the Snitch, and closer to the ground.

"He's probably behind me, waiting to grab onto the tail of my broom. Think again, Malfoy, Wood is the ref, and he sure as hell won't let you get away with flagrant fouls or the victory over this game. The Cup is ours again, don't try to deny it." Harry smiled to himself as he pulled out of the dive and the crowd ooh-ed. He held out his hand, the Snitch scintillating in his eyes from the light of the sun. "Where is Malfoy? He'd be right beside me by now. This is too easy... It can't be possible... But maybe it is." Harry's hand closed over the Golden Snitch, and the crowd screamed itself hoarse.

Fred and George flew over to Harry. George grabbed Harry's arm and held it over his head to give everyone proof that their team had indeed caught the Snitch. Angelina, Alicia, and Katie met the boys on the ground, and threw their arms around Harry all at the same time.

"We're going to win that Cup again!" Angelina squealed as she hugged Fred.

Alina hovered in the air a while, watching as the Gryffindors, as well as Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, crowded onto the pitch. They were all making their way over to the Gryffindor team who were on the ground below her. She could hear Ron screaming to Harry how he showed Malfoy off again. Penelope was jumping up and down, and went over to Harry and hugged him from behind. Oliver Wood had joined the celebration and gave the team pats on the back. Caught up in the excitement, Penelope threw her arms around Oliver and almost made him suffocate. When she had realized she was hugging Oliver Wood, she pulled away and led Megan over to the Weasley twins.

From the stands came a jet of bright red light. Alina watched its path curiously, until it hit someone.

That someone was Draco Malfoy.

Alina watched in horror as the red light hit him in the stomach, and he gave off an affect as if he were punched. With one hand he clutched his broom, and the other held his stomach tightly. He seemed to be in excruciating pain by the look of distress displayed on his face.

He flew above the pitch a good forty feet at the moment he was hit. But with the pain he was feeling, he couldn't steer himself on the broom, and he couldn't bring himself to the ground. Nobody seemed to notice because they were either rejoicing over the victory by the Gryffindors, or grumbling about it. And nobody noticed when Draco lost his grip on the broom and began to fall.

"DRACO!" Alina screamed, but she didn't find herself moving.

The people below her looked up at her.

"Alina, are you..." Harry stopped talking when students simultaneously began screaming. Harry's eyes followed Alina's gaze to find Draco Malfoy sprawled out, face down, on the ground. Before he knew it, Alina flew towards the ground and jumped off her broom. She began running as fast as her feet and lungs could take it.

"Draco," Alina whispered as she knelt down beside his lifeless form. She flipped him over, onto his back. His face was cut and bruised from the fall, and his hands were closed in tight fists. So tight that his nails had dug into his skin and caused his hands to bleed. "Isn't somebody going to call Dumbledore?" she thought.

Alina looked up quickly to see Crabbe peering at her. When she caught his gaze, he quickly turned away and started running. She gasped. He had done it. He turned his back on Draco and did this to him. But she had to wonder, why did he do it?

She wanted to run after Crabbe, wrap her hands around his neck and choke him until he turned purple. She wanted to hex him so badly, and get an answer out of him as to why he did this to Draco. She was about to push herself up off of the ground when she remembered that Draco still lay unconscious before her. She wanted to strangle Crabbe, but she couldn't just leave Draco there. She knew that no one would come and help him.

She decided that she was going to let Crabbe run while he can. She hoped for him that he run far, far away because if she ever did get a hold of him, he would find himself trembling at her feet as if she were Lord Voldemort. And that's not an exaggeration.

Alina lifted Draco slowly, hoping not to cause him any more pain than he could've possibly endured. His head fell limply to the side, and Alina hoped it wasn't too late. She held him close to her and began walking slowly. But she was one girl, and she couldn't carry, or actually drag, him back to the castle and up to the hospital wing.

"Isn't anybody going to help me?" Alina thought as she looked to the people in the crowd. They all stared at her as if she had leprosy. She wanted to call out to them and beg them for help. But she knew that no matter how hard she would try, they'd just ignore her.

Draco was right; they're loners.

Then, Alina felt the weight in her arms become light. Megan and Penelope each got a hold of one of Draco's legs and helped Alina carry him. The weight was lightened even more when Harry held another part of Draco. Alina looked at them awestruck, and almost found herself unable to move again.

"Don't stop, we need to bring him to safety." Harry said as he and the two other girls picked up the pace.

Alina smiled inwardly. Maybe she wasn't as alone as she had expected.

A/N: "Damn straight"? Oh Lord, did I just make Alina say something totally ghetto? My apologies. See, Alina couldn't stay friendless forever. Hey, did any of y'all see those pictures from the Chamber of Secrets premiere? OH - MY - GOD!!! Rupert Grint has grown up to be mighty handsome (just don't tell my cousin I said that, or she'd get me for eyeing her boyfriend.) My baby Dan has matured so much! Grr...Emma needs to keep her paws OFF of Daniel, THANK YOU! (Don't mind me, I'm just having a jealous, mad bitch moment.) ::drools:: Tom Felton. Tom Felton. Tom friggin' Felton. Good sweet God. He spiked his hair. I think I can confirm the rumors now, Tom Felton and I are indeed getting married. Sean Biggerstaff in a kilt. I was almost crying when I saw the pictures. I was just pondering if Sean wears a kilt because he's from Scotland. Heeheeheeheehee!!! Christian Coulson. ::drools:: Yeah, and you thought Tom Felton made evil look sexy. Christian Coulson doubles him by a thousand. Okay, enough of that, talk to y'all in the next A/N. -Gryffindor Heiress